Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are made up of Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen and are frequently abbreviates CHO.

The main function of carbohydrates is supply energy. Carbohydrates come in two forms - simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates are single or double sugar molecules. Examples of simple carbohydrates are table sugar and syrup. Complex carbohydrates include starches and fiber. Examples of starches are cereal, bread, and grains. Source of fiber include whole grains and nuts. The abbreviation for carbohydrate is CHO because they contain Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen atoms.

There are good carbs and bad CHO's. Fifty percent (50%) of your calories should come from CHO's. You get your good CHO's from whole grains and fruits. Poorer sources of CHO's include pure sugar, syrup and honey, and other foods that contain no other nutrient other then simple carbohydrates.

Most CHO are produced by green plants not animals. Plants are able to convert the carbon dioxide from the air and water from their roots into CHO throught the process of photosynthesis.

There are three forms of carbohydrates:
 * 1) Simple sugar alone or in nutrition foods
 * 2) Complex carbohydrates
 * 3) Fiber (sometimes refered to as cellulose)